Jobs

In states across the country, tens of thousands of jobs are tied to annual exports of manufactured goods. California, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan are the nation's leaders by the export of manufactured goods. Indeed, in California alone, more than 700,000 jobs are supported by the $117 billion in manufactured exports from the state to the rest of the world.

Small Business

In states across the nation, exports have enabled companies to stabilize and expand operations as they reduce their dependence on the existing domestic market. This phenomenon is not limited to large companies. In nearly all states, 70% or more of the businesses involved in global trade are small or medium-size. For instance, although many large companies are found in California, 95% of the California-based companies that export overseas are small and medium-size firms. Access to international markets is crucial to the future growth of hundreds of U.S. businesses.

Manufacturing

International trade and investment further each state's industrial base. Globally competitive manufacturing industries are located across the country. U.S. manufacturers that produce leading-edge computers and electronic products located in such states as California, Colorado, or Texas sell their products globally. So do chemical manufacturers in Michigan and transportation equipment manufacturers in Alabama and South Carolina. These manufacturing exports account for thousands of jobs at the state level.

Global trade means more than just overseas sales. It is important to remember that the large U.S. market is one of the world's favored investment destinations. The investments by overseas firms generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in wealth in each state. In the country's largest states, nearly 550,000 Californians are employed by foreign companies and some 340,000 Texans are employed by overseas firms. In smaller states, like Alabama and Colorado, more than 70,000 workers in each state are employed by foreign firms attracted to the vibrant local business climate.

Sales Revenues

The demand for U.S. exports also generates revenues for state economies. Companies must purchase components in order to manufacture goods for export. For instance, in Ohio, these local purchases translate into $60 billion being pumped into the state economy. These sales revenues generate jobs and supplement the tax base, which in turn, fund community projects like schools and roads.